Comment: The booms probably wouldn't have been caused by the spheres per se, but whatever craft or larger object carried them through the atmosphere before disintegrating/exploding - assuming that they are indeed man-made and part of a satellite.

People living in Larancahuani, in the region of Puno, Peru, were reportedly left terrified when three metallic spheres crashed down.

The unexplained incident unfolded on January 27.

Video footage from the day appears to show a fireball hurtling through the sky.

It prompted fears of an imminent meteorite impact or an alien invasion.

According to the Peruvian Air Force, the incident may have been the spectacular reentry of the SL-23 rocket and three spherical objects were fuel tanks from a satellite.

Reader Comments

" Comment: The booms probably wouldn't have been caused by the spheres per se , but whatever craft or larger object carried them through the atmosphere before disintegrating/exploding - assuming that they are indeed man-made and part of a satellite. "

Why add the last bit??? Do they look like they are not man-made? It's also interesting that the caption of the opening photograph labels the local Peruvians who found them as 'peasants'.